Obama’s long game on gun control

President Barack Obama, accompanied by Vice President Joe Biden, talks about proposals to reduce gun violence, Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2013, in the South Court Auditorium at the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Some of President Barack Obama’s proposals on gun control will take effect immediately, but not all of them. Some may take years to get through Congress or begin showing results. Here are some that could keep the gun control debate alive in the future.

Gun control: Obama’s long-term proposals

Some of President Barack Obama’s proposals on gun control will take effect immediately, but not all of them. Some may take years to get through Congress or begin showing results. Here are some that could keep the gun control debate alive in the future.

Add data to the federal background check system.

Fourteen states list fewer than five people with mental-health issues in the federal database for background checks on gun buyers. Questions about the mental health of Adam Lanza and other recent mass shooters have led to calls to expand the types of records added to the background check system. But that will require coordination among various state and federal agencies and revisions in some state laws on medical records that could take months or even years to implement.

Pass a ban on assault weapons.

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One of the more far-reaching proposals from Obama is a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, which many gun control advocates believe would help limit the toll in deadly shootings. But public opinion remains divided on an assault weapons ban and it’s unlikely to pass the Republican-controlled House of Representatives. Governors of blue states such as New York, Connecticut and Maryland are looking to take action on their own, though, so an assault-weapons ban could become a hot topic during the 2016 Democratic presidential primary.

Conduct research on gun violence.

In recent years, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has largely avoided research on the causes of gun violence due to funding restrictions on anything that might be used to advocate gun control. Obama has directed the agency to begin new research, arguing that the language of the restrictions does not limit basic research. He’s also called for $10 million more from Congress for research.

The results of these studies won’t come back in time to help Obama with his push for new gun laws and the president may not get another chance to address the topic during his presidency. But the next time Congress or a state legislature debates gun laws, you can expect to hear a lot about what the researchers found.

Trace guns recovered in criminal investigations.

The data from gun tracing after criminal investigations could prove helpful for future legislators who need to make sense of the types of guns that continue to be used frequently in less-high-profile shootings. Recent and updated information is difficult to come by, and both sides of the debate will use it to advocate for their positions.

Launch a national safe and responsible gun ownership campaign.

A national campaign to promote gun safety would take funding, staffing, leadership and tracking to develop over time. Some government-sponsored public awareness campaigns, such as those encouraging the use of seat belts, have been effective at changing people’s behavior, but it can take years for them to have an effect.

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Train officials about handling mass shootings.

The mass shooting at Columbine High School in 1999 led to changes in how police respond to shooters. Obama called for expanding training for law enforcement and school officials on the latest techniques. But it will be years before the effects of this training will be seen.